"I've no doubt she would if you'd given her half a chance." The bitterness of her increased his own. "Or is it that _I_ would if she'd given me half a chance? Are you quite _sure_ which?" "I'm sure of nothing where either of you are concerned. As for Clare, she's been a traitor. Right from the time of first meeting you she's played a double game, deceiving me and yourself as well. She's ruined our lives together, she's spoilt our happiness and she won't be satisfied till she's wrecked us both completely. I detest her--I loathe her--I loathe her more than I've ever loathed anybody in the world. Thank God I know her _now_--at least _I_ shall never trust her any more. And if _you_ do, perhaps some day you'll pay as I've paid. Do you think she's playing straight with you any more than she has with me? Do you think _you_ can trust her? Are you taken in?" The note of savage scorn in her voice made him reply coldly: "You've no cause to talk about taking people in. If ever I've been taken in, as you call it, it was by you, not by Clare!" He saw her go suddenly white. He was half-sorry he had dealt her the blow, but as she went on to speak, her words, fiercer than ever now, stung him into gladness. "All right! Trust her and pay for it! I could tell you things if I wished--but I'm not such a traitor to her as she's been to me. I could tell you things that would make you gasp, you wretched little fool!" "They wouldn't make me gasp; they'd make me call you a damned liar. Helen, I can understand you hating Clare; I can understand, in a sense, the charge of traitor that you bring against her; but when you hint all sorts of awful secrets about her I just think what a petty, spiteful heart you must have! You ruin your own case by actions like that. They sicken me." "Very well, let them sicken you. You'll not be more sickened than I am. But perhaps you think I can't do more than hint. I can and I will, since you drive me to it. Next time you pay your evening visits to Clare ask her what she thinks of Pritchard!" "Pritchard! Pritchard!--What's he got to do with it?" "Ask Clare." "Why should I ask her?" "Because, maybe, on the spur of the moment she wouldn't be able to think of any satisfactory lie to tell you." He felt anger rising up within him. He detested Pritchard, and the mention of his name in connection with Clare infuriated him. Moreover, his mind, always quick to entertain suspicion, pictured all manner of disturbing fancies, even though his reason rejected them absolutely. He trusted Clare; he would believe no evil of her. And yet, the mere thought of it was a disturbing one. "I wouldn't insult her by letting her think I listened to such gossip," he said, rather weakly. There followed a longish pause; he thinking of what she had said and trying to rid himself of the discomfort of associating Pritchard with Clare, and she watching him, mockingly, as if conscious that her words had taken root in his mind.